‘Political vilification’

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

(We give way to a letter hereunder of Perry John Mendoza, spokesperson of Tongtongan ti Umili “vilification campaign against progressive organizations in Ifugao allegedly by state agents.)

In line with the recent smear campaign of the so-called Ifugao People’s Council, the Tongtongan ti Umili (TTU) issues this statement to belie the contents which are written against our member Emerson Soriano and the other people included in the poster. Tongtongan ti Umili, the Metro Baguio chapter of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, is a multi-sectoral people’s organization that works to create avenues to advance the Baguio people’s rights and welfare. TTU was established in 1992 and has been a part of Baguio people’s actions that resulted to qualitative change in the city. Emerson Castaneda Soriano is currently a staff of the TTU.

Tongtongan ti Umili affirms Emerson Soriano’s innocence from all these vilifications or false accusations. He is not, first and foremost, a member of the New People’s Army. You do not see him walking around the city with guns and grenades. What you will see is his display of his own handicrafts and do-it-yourself projects. He is not armed with ammunitions but rather with the principles of upholding human rights and indigenous peoples’ rights. He does not brainwash or poison the youth’s minds. Once a teacher in a local secondary school, Mr. Soriano taught the nature of science to his students. In his early years as a teacher, he started volunteering for community integration programs. From this experience, he saw how the people of Baguio City live in poverty.  This realization eventually translated into volunteering his time for a greater cause. In 2010, he became a volunteer staff of KatribuPartylist where he was assigned to give educational trainings on the rights of the indigenous people and suffrage. He later became a staff of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance regional office. There, he imparted his skills in multi-media through educational materials that are helpful for the indigenous peoples. As a human rights advocate, he works to capacitate people in asserting their basic human rights. He goes to far-flung communities in the region where social services are often missed and he teaches the community people how to organize themselves so that they are able to register their concerns to the proper authorities and demand for solutions.

Contrary to the poster that came out on February 26, 2014 entitled Rupa ken Nagan dagiti NPA nga Agsusuweldo (Faces and Names of NPA members that Receive Salaries) bearing photos and names of personalities that are presumed to be members of the New PeoplesArmy  and posted in different municipalities in Ifugao, Emerson Soriano is not an enemy who lives off from a luxurious life. Mr. Soriano is a volunteer activist, who lives a simple life. He also promulgates his knowledge in arts, music and even horticulture. His earnings are well delegated to provide for his three children. His children are too young to understand why their father is branded as an insurgent. What they do know is that their father is a peace-maker and works well to organize the communities.

The Tongtongan ti Umili condemns all forms of political vilification that targets human rights defenders and community development workers. These vilifications and smear campaigns are full of lies and indignation to the targets. Worse, these vilifications pose a great deal of danger not only to the person but to his/her entire family. In our experience, what starts as vilification becomes red tagging that lead to extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearance. Such was the case of our martyrs- Rafael Markus Bangit (Kalinga), Jose Doton (Pangasinan), Romeo Sanchez (Ilocos), Albert Teredano (Abra), PepeManegdeg (Abra) and the wife of Dr. William Claver (Kalinga).  Political vilification, persecution, enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings are the State’s response to pacify any uprising against their greed, monopoly and oppression. It is the retaliation of the reactionary State towards the people who dedicate their lives helping the marginalized sectors realize their rights. The threats and intimidations that our human rights defenders and community development workers receive is not a sign of State power but the revelation of cowardice and the insecurity of the State’s control.

Lastly, political vilification, intimidation and harassments will not pacify the activism in every man’s heart. Tongtongan ti Umili, along with other progressive people’s organization will continue to fight alongside people like Mr. Soriano in asserting our rights and towards the attainment of genuine peace and social justice.